Prioritize jobless, inactive registered nurses over non-board passers, solon tells DOH
Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes (Facebook)
The Department of Health (DOH) should prioritize hiring jobless and inactive registered nurses over unlicensed nurses in the effort to fill the vacancies in government hospitals. Thus, said Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes Monday, June 26 amid proposals from the DOH to hire non-board exam passers as a way for government to mitigate the shortage of nurses. "Marami po tayong nurses, board passers, na naghahanap ng trabaho. 'Di ba dapat unahin natin ang mga licensed nurses bago bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga hindi pa nakakapasa ng board exams?" Reyes asked. (We still have a lot of nurses and board passers who are looking for jobs. Shouldn't we prioritize licensed nurses before we give an opportunity to the non-board exam passers?) Reyes also urged DOH to conduct a study on why many nursing board passers choose to be inactive and work in other fields. "Sobrang nakakalungkot na ayon sa PRC (Professional Regulation Commission), 53.55 percent lang ng nursing board passers ang active at nagpapractice ng nursing profession," he said. (It’s saddening that according to the PRC, only 53.55 percent of nursing board passers become active or practice the nursing profession.) The neophyte lawmaker said this was one of the reasons why he filed House Bill (HB) No. 6631, which seeks to institutionalize a scholarship and return service program for nursing students. Under the bill, a student will be required to serve one and a half years for every academic year of scholarship availed, in his or her province or municipality hospital or provider as determined by the local government unit (LGU) and confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH). "Through this proposed measure, we hope to help deserving students while also ensuring an adequate supply of nurses in the country," Reyes said.